Rob Howley plays down John Spencer incident

British and Irish Lions assistant coach Rob Howley has played down the "unsavoury" incident involving tour manager John Spencer in a Auckland restaurant on Thursday.

The 69-year-old was enjoying a private meal with his wife and a friend at The Depot in the Viaduct area before a fellow diner from New Zealand, who was drunk started abusing Spencer when he was declined a photograph. The Lions' tour manager reportedly pushed the man away and asked to be left alone.

Neither Spencer nor the Lions have lodged an official complaint regarding the incident.

"I've spoken to John, it's an isolated, disappointing incident," said assistant coach Rob Howley of Spencer's experience.

"We've had a fantastic welcome, the New Zealand public have been fantastic with their welcome.

"Unfortunately in sport there's always a minority, it's not the majority, but the experiences and welcomes we've had have been quite unbelievable."

With the first Test set to begin on Saturday in front of a packed Auckland crowd, Howley insisted that the one-off incident will not distract the Lions ahead of the all-important game.

"The New Zealand public have embraced us," said Howley.

"It was only last night we went out to the Viaduct (a waterfront entertainment complex) as a squad and management and we had a lot of Kiwis coming up to us.

"Yes there's been banter but that's all part of it.

"But coming back to John, it's an isolated incident, and it's the minority, not the majority."